Both teams are likely to have plenty of players making their debuts this evening although the home side may edge it with four New Zealanders, Donegalman Fergal Harkin and a couple of the younger Dubliners to arrive at the club, all possibly in line to play this evening.
Derek McGrath and Maurice O'Driscoll of Bohemians have also been back training which means that new manager Joe McGrath has more or less a full squad; as a result we should get a clearer idea of who will figure in his regular first team line-ups. Harps's form on the road last year was their main problem; so it will be interesting to see how they cope with a Bohemians side that has looked very positive during the League Cup games. They won't be helped this evening by the absence of John Gerard McGettigan (hamstring) and a bout of flu that is troubling Paddy McGrenaghan, Stephen Kelly and Donal O'Brien. Last season: Bohemians 4 Harps 2, Harps 3 Bohemians 2, Bohemians 1 Harps 0. League Cup form: Bohemians: WDW; Harps: WDD. Betting: Home: 4/7, Draw: 11/5, Away: 6/4. Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers
With four Dublin teams all fancying their chances of lifting the title, the Dublin derbies may well be a key factor in deciding where the championship trophy goes at the start of next summer.
This contest should be an interesting insight into how these two particular sides handle the pressures and, most particularly, into how newly installed Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely is going to change things at Tolka Park to bring league success. Stephen Geoghegan and Greg Costello are both still missing from the Shelbourne side due to groin strains (Geoghegan will be out for some time yet after breaking down in training last week); Rovers have problems of their own with Matt Britton (flu), Derek Tracey and Richie Purdy (hamstring) and Brendan Markey ranging from doubtful to, in Markey's case, positively laid up. Last season: Shelbourne 1 Rovers 0, Rovers 0 Shelbourne 2, Shelbourne 2 Rovers 1. League Cup form: Shelbourne: WWD; Rovers: LWW. Betting: Home: 10/11, Draw: 9/4, Away: 5/2. Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
Waterford Utd v UCD
It's generally felt that the teams that have come up this year are better placed to stay up than their predecessors over the past couple of seasons. Tommy Lynch, who will receive his National League United first division Player Of The Year award for last year this evening, will start to find out tonight just how well grounded the theory is.
This is a tough start for the students who will be looking to reorganise their line-up in the wake of a string of first-team departures and their cause won't exactly be helped by the fact that Mick O'Byrne picked up a hamstring injury against Shelbourne that will keep him out of the action this evening.
United, meanwhile, are likely to be without John Lacey (groin strain) but Lynch has brought in a fair bit of cover over the summer and shouldn't be too put out. The First Division champions improved steadily through their League Cup matches, in contrast to the Dubliners who struggled, and they'll be hopeful of making a good start. Last season: Did not meet. League Cup form: Waterford: LDW; UCD: LLD. Betting: Home: 4/5, Draw: 12/5, Away: 1 1/4. Referee: T Tully (Cork) All kick-offs at 7.45.
Betting courtesy of Paddy Power
